Pablo Barrios Attains Third Grand Prix Win in $40,000 Kentucky Classic Grand Prix Sponsored by Air 51 and Audi of Lexington

by: Jenny Ross Koning

Lexington, KY – August 1, 2009 – Tonight Pablo Barrios of Caracas, Venezuela, captured his third grand prix victory in two weeks at the Kentucky Summer Classic. He and his mount La Gran were unstoppable, taking first place honors in the $40,000 Kentucky Classic Grand Prix sponsored by Air 51 and Audi of Lexington. Last week Barrios and La Gran were victorious in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix.

Tonight’s event was held in the Sheila C. Johnson Ring in the New Outdoor Stadium, and the course was designed by Michel Vaillancourt. Out of 43 starting entries, only seven horse and rider combinations qualified for the jump-off. The class was scored under a Table II.2(A) format.

In the jump-off, Sarah Segal and her horse Holiday returned for the short course and accrued twelve faults in 41.989 seconds. Segal resides in New York, NY. Francis Tress Roig and his mount Lady In Blue produced a solid ride, but they pulled the very last rail, clocking in with a time of 41.064 seconds. Roig lives in Humacao, Puerto Rico.

Kent Farrington and RCG Farm’s United rode quickly and carefully and executed the first double clear round of the night, setting the pace in 40.721 seconds. RCG Farm is based in Newton, CT.

Rodrigo Lambre and Chepepe La Escondi unfortunately lowered the height of the first fence, but their fast time of 38.676 seconds would hold up for fifth place. Lambre is from San Pedro, NL, Mexico. Aaron Vale competed next aboard Tarco, owned by Joan Kalman of Bedford, NY. Vale had an incredible ride, galloping between fences and cutting all the necessary corners. Soaring home in 38.216 seconds, the crowd exploded into applause as Vale bettered Farrington’s score and took over the lead. His clean and expeditious ride seemed unbeatable.

Pablo Barrios and La Gran trotted in the ring next, and they immediately picked up a gallop and promptly negotiated the first fence. With incredible foot speed, La Gran tightened the turn to the second obstacle and moved across the ground with a rapid pace. Their momentum carried them through the double combination and helped La Gran meet the last three obstacles without any hesitation. Barrios and his mount skyrocketed to the top of the leader board with an extraordinary time of 38.072 seconds. La Gran is owned by Barrios and Andres Olivares of Wellington, FL.

Tracey Fenney and MTM Centano were the last pair to take on the short course. MTM Centano, owned by MTM Farm in Flower Mound, TX, had the fastest time of the night in 37.550 seconds; however, they received four faults when Fenney angled the vertical at fence eight and pulled the top rail. Her score revealed that Barrios was the winner yet again.

After his win, Barrios discussed his strategy going into the jump-off. “I didn’t see Kent [Farrington] go, but I know my horse can be faster than his because his horse takes more time in the air,” he revealed. “I heard that the rider after him beat his time, but had the first jump down. So, I knew that the time was beatable. I had the luck to see Aaron [Vale] go. Probably, if Aaron went after me, he would have beaten my time. That’s part of the game,” he explained. “But I got a lucky spot in the jump-off again, like the other day. My horse feels amazing. He’s a very good horse, and I’m very pleased to have him.”

Barrios was confident that La Gran had the speed to be a leading contender. “I knew I could have the time. I was pretty sure, for the track that I had and as fast as he is,” he said. “He doesn’t waste too much time in the air. He’s so quick. He turned fast. He’s an amazing horse. Finally I have an amazing horse, and I am winning!” he laughed. “I’ve been waiting too many years for that to happen, and I am very happy to have it now. Also, I am very thankful to my country for the help and support that I receive from El Ministerio Del Deportes.”

He explained that he could have gone a touch faster to the vertical at fence eight, but he did not want to force La Gran or push him too hard. “I think what I did was enough. I was trusting in his speed,” he stated.

He described his first round with La Gran as “one of the best rounds I’ve ever had with that horse.” Barrios added, “He let me put him in every single spot that I wanted to put him. At every single distance, he jumped so relaxed. From fence one to the last, he felt amazing.”

Barrios will take next week off from showing. He will then compete for another two weeks at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and the KHJA Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. In September, he will participate in the ‘Masters’ Tournament in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Kentucky Summer Classic concludes tomorrow at the horse park. Show jumping highlights include the High and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics.

$40,000 KENTUCKY CLASSIC GRAND PRIX RESULTS

1 28 LAGRAN PABLO BARRIOS, 0, 38.072 2 539 TARCO AARON VALE, 0, 38.216 3 924 UNITED KENT FARRINGTON, 0, 40.721 4 705 MTM CENTANO TRACY FENNEY, 4, 37.550 5 462 CHEPEPE LA ESCONDI RODRIGO LAMBRE, 4, 38.676 6 637 LADY IN BLUE FRANCIS TRESS ROIG, 4, 41.064 7 576 HOLIDAY SARAH SEGAL, 12, 41.989 8 1289 PATOILE DAVID BEISEL, 4, 76.185 9 636 MALCOLM NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO, 4, 78.550 10 331 LITTLE JOHN ELIZA SHUFORD, 4, 80.966 11 27 SINATRA PABLO BARRIOS, 4, 81.198 12 633 CLAUS ANGELA MOORE, 4, 81.410

For more information on the Kentucky Summer Classic, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Caption: Pablo Barrios and La Gran take first place in the $40,000 Kentucky Classic Grand Prix at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Photo C 2009 Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.